Lock on Balcony Door in R-2 Apartment

[RCT]

The question is at what square footing does the balcony become large enough to be considered to require a MOE? That's simple, always however what has always been seen as spaced used has also been seen as open access, unless a stunt is pulled.

The truth is, if you don't allow the lock, they will end up with a cut off broom handle laying in the track and which do you prefer?

If you are real worried about someone getting stuck outside, require that all the balconies must have "Windshield Breaker Tools secured for use" or "a Call station"

In either case locks have been allowed for decades and if you are worried about it, write an exception for the next code cycle.

Just my 2-Cents

TBZ

 

[100eyeballs]

It is perfectly acceptable to have a lock on the interior of a sliding patio door serving a balcony. This is TYPICAL of every apartment/hotel/etc.

The balcony is not a habitable space required to be served by a means of egress.

Just wish the code had specifically addressed the subject as another except in 1010.1.9.3 similar to exception 4. Some people (outside this forum) like to make a fuss out of what is common sense to everyone else. Now backs are against the wall to prove something per code, and the code is relatively silent.

If you can lock the door so that you can't get out of the unit, what makes you think you can not lock all of the doors "inside" the unit?

Do we not think locks are not allowed on the outside of bedroom doors? I've seen this in other threads - child protective services doesn't like you locking your kids in their rooms.

Thanks for everyone taking the time to review and post from a common sense approach. The only apparent code language is that this space is outside the building, therefore it does not require a means of egress. (There is no projection over the balcony in this specific case.)